Published in:
01-12-2003 | Concise Article
Role of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae as Causative Agents of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalised Children and Adolescents
Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases | Issue 12/2003
Login to get accessAbstract
The aim of the study presented here was to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae versus Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in paediatric patients with community-acquired pneumonia. A total of 50 patients (mean age, 5.5 years; median, 3.9 years) with community-acquired pneumonia were enrolled. Four patients were found to have Chlamydia pneumoniae infection (1 culture positive, 1 PCR positive and 2 serology positive) and 16 patients had Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (2 PCR positive, 4 PCR and serology positive, 10 serology positive), including three patients with coinfection. The rates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were 22%, 35% and 40% in children aged 1–3, >3–7 and >7 years, respectively. Acute Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was substantially less common than Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in our study cohort.